Curious about the lack of response, he went first to the kitchen. Tohru would be busy starting dinner right now and probably hadn't heard him. Not only was the kitchen deserted, but there was no evidence of a meal being prepared either.
Odd, he thought, frowning. Tonight is her night off...and she didn't mention anything about having to something after school.
Worry began to tickle the back of his mind as he checked his cousin's study and found it deserted as well. Under normal circumstances, Shigure would leave a note if only to tease his poor editor.
The sound of furniture scraping across the floor above him brought Yuki to the base of the stairs. If Shigure had tricked Tohru into cleaning out the spare bedroom, even by accident, he'd knock the inu straight through the roof.
The spare bedroom was indeed being cleaned, Yuki discovered, but the scene was not at all what he was expecting. Tohru stood on a small step ladder, handing boxes out of the small closet to Kyou. Hatori and Shigure were carefully trying to move a dressing from one corner to one directly opposite. A fifth occupant was making the western style bed with hospital precision.
She wore her dark auburn hair in a high ponytail that brushed the collar of her white Oxford shirt. Pink and grey striped socks peeked out from under the hem of her flare legged khaki pants. She stepped back and pulled a wrinkle in the coverlet. She studied her handiwork with sparkling almond shaped green eyes. She smiled brightly and dusted her hands on her pants.
"Don't just stand there, you damn rat. Help us out!" Kyou snapped, tossing a plastic garbage bag at Yuki.
The rat caught it easily. "What are you all doing?" he asked, guessing, but wanting to know the answer anyway.
"Samantha-chan is going to be staying with us, Sohma-kun!" Tohru said brightly.
Yuki stared at the girl now standing slightly behind Hatori, nervously tugging on the hem of her shirt. He didn't know how to react to this. Shock, fear, and confusion warred in his brain as he tried to process what was going on.
"You know, Yuki, you are being uncharacteristically rude to our new guest," Shigure piped up, a mischievous grin on his face.
Yuki blushed furiously and bowed politely. "Gomen nasai, Samantha-san. I'm Yuki Sohma. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Samantha returned his greeting, blushing. She was saved from saying anything more by the loud rumble of Kyou's stomach. Everyone's eyes turned to the cat who glared.
"Oh! I forgot all about dinner! I'll go start something right away!" Tohru cried, distressed.
"Would you like some help, Tohru-chan?" Samantha asked.
"You don't have to," she replied cheerfully. "You should stay up here and get settled in."
"There's not much more I can do. I really don't mind. Besides, Sohma-san said I have to earn my keep."
Yuki wasn't sure Tohru's smile could get much brighter as she accepted Samantha's offer. The two girls went left the room, discussing what to make. He waited until he was sure they were out of ear shot before he turned on his cousins.
"Are you out of your minds? Bringing another girl to live here? What if he finds out? He'll kill her!"
Hatori crossed his arms over his chest. "Samantha is a Sohma, although very distantly and not in the legal sense," he said quietly.
"And Akito did say last New years that any Sohma who wanted the spare bed room could have it," Shigure supplied, merrily.
Yuki frowned. "No, he said any of the Junishi could...you're not saying she's a member of the Zodiac?"
Kyou snorted. "That's exactly what he's saying, you stupid rat. She's the cow."
He ignored his brash cousin. "What about Hatsuharu? How is that possible?"
"We're not sure. It could be the fact that her blood is illegitimate. Maybe it's because her ancestors were allowed to marry for love," Hatori said. "The Hart's have been stumbling around in the dark as far as their curse is concerned. They know less than we do."
Kyou's stomach growled again. Shigure giggled at the glowering cat. "It's not funny, you stupid bastard! Gah! I'm outta here."
"That reminds me," Shigure mused as he watched Kyou leave the room. "Ha'ri, are you staying for dinner? You know you'd hurt Tohru-kun's feelings if you didn't. You don't want to hurt poor Tohru, do you?"
Hatori sighed. "No, but I've been away all day. I need to get back. Yuki, don't forget your appointment next week."
Yuki nodded as he Shigure walked Hatori out. He sighed, feeling a massive headache coming on. Every time he thought things were settling down into some semi-peaceful semblance of normal, fate had to throw a boomerang into the mix. He closed the door to Samantha's room and went to lie down before dinner.